Melbourne Demons

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin says the disappointing manner in which the Demons’ 2017 season ended is spurring them on to greater heights this time around.

The Dees were upset by Collingwood in the final round of last year’s home and away campaign, a loss that saw them ultimately miss the finals by 0.5 per cent.

Goodwin’s mantra of valuing every individual battle within a game has resonated with the group as they strive for a first September apperance since 2006.

“We still know there’s a lot of growth in us as well,” he told SEN’s Whateley.

“Coaches, clubs and players talk about being able to play four quarters, and it’s been something that we have been really focusing in on.

“We had the greatest lesson of all last year around that every contest, every quarter and every moment in a game matters, and we had no greater example last year in the way we played our season and the way it played out.

“It’s been a big driving force internally in terms of the way we want to play games and contests.

“The pleasing thing is when you do that on a consistent basis you start to get the results that we’re having.

“We don’t speak about the event – we speak about what we actually learned – and that was to value every moment and every contest, whether you’re 20-points down or 20-points up.

“It’s how you go about your game consistently and that you value every moment in every game.”